The Best Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in America for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
small Public Private 4 year

415 results nationwide

Bethune Cookman University
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B
HBCU
Daytona Beach, FL

Bethune Cookman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 2,515enrollment
  • $14,705net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 830-1000SAT range
  • 15-18ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
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F
Orlando, FL

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,692enrollment
  • $30,340net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1140SAT range
  • 21-24ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Becker College
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B
Worcester, MA

Becker College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,675enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 960-1180SAT range
  • 20-31ACT range
  • 3.36Estimated Avg GPA

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Delta State University
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D
Cleveland, MS

Delta State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,716enrollment
  • $13,457net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 940-1190SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

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Mississippi University for Women
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M
Columbus, MS

Mississippi University for Women

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,227enrollment
  • $12,617net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 850-1180SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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Southwest Baptist University
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S
Bolivar, MO
 

Southwest Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 2,155enrollment
  • $19,781net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 960-1200SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Medaille College
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M
Buffalo, NY
 

Medaille College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#59 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,727enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 930-1140SAT range
  • 17-21ACT range
  • 3.14Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Nyack College
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N
Nyack, NY

Nyack College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#60 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,595enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 848-1093SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 2.76Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

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Mayville State University
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M
Mayville, ND

Mayville State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in North Dakota

  • 1,025enrollment
  • $14,050net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 880-1250SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Wright State University Lake Campus
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W
Celina, OH
 

Wright State University Lake Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 1,398enrollment
  • $12,039net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 790-890SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 26

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Lock Haven University
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L
Lock Haven, PA

Lock Haven University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

#22 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,920enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
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M
Mansfield, PA

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,796enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

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University of the Sciences
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T
Philadelphia, PA

University of the Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#61 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,420enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1340SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

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Southern Wesleyan University
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S
Central, SC
 

Southern Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,188enrollment
  • $20,336net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

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Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio
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O
San Antonio, TX

Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,096enrollment
  • $17,961net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 890-1070SAT range
  • 15-23ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Castleton State College
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C
Castleton, VT
 

Castleton State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Vermont

  • 2,363enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 970-1210SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.17Estimated Avg GPA

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Eastern Mennonite University
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E
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,292enrollment
  • $24,710net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1590SAT range
  • 25-34ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Mary Baldwin College
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M
Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,792enrollment
  • $18,838net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 940-1120SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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